Title:

‘Roche Translational Cancer Research Fellowship’

Background:

  • Translational research is most effective when clinicians and scientists work together.
  • Collaboration is a strength of research in NZ, but currently there is a lack of clinicians who are truly integrated into cancer research teams in NZ.
  • A key role of NZSO is to encourage cancer clinicians and scientists to collaborate.
  • Local expertise and cutting edge ideas can draw people together to conduct research.

Purpose of award:

A unique opportunity for NZ cancer research teams to up-skill an integral team member, so that the team can work together more effectively to improve research output.

Value:

$30,000 – one award per annum.

Sponsor:

Roche Products (NZ) Ltd

Awarding body:

Recipient selection and award administration will be conducted by NZSO, as per existing NZSO awards.

Status of Award

Current NZSO awards recognise excellence in pre-career and late career, but not in-between. The two Eli Lilly awards are given to the best presentation by a trainee scientist, and the best presentation by a trainee clinician. The Translational Research Award is given to a late career scientist or clinician who has made a significant contribution to translational research in NZ.

The ‘Roche Translational Cancer Research Fellowship’ would complement the current NZSO awards by recognising excellence at the intermediate but critical point between these two career stages – specifically early career and up and coming.

Who is eligible?

Translational research teams that includes BOTH clinicians and scientists will be eligible. The award will be given to the team and the team nominates the recipient in their proposal. Therefore, the quality of the team, the quality of the proposed recipient, and the quality of the proposal will all be considered by the selection panel.

Favoured recipients:

  • A research team who can show that they can work together to share their scientific and clinical expertise to conduct research that could improve cancer outcomes.
  • Research teams where a clinician is a leader of the research team.
  • Newer research teams will be favoured to help develop new talent, balanced by evidence of a track record that would be equated with future success.
  • Recipient should be earlier in professional career (e.g., new oncologist, new research fellow/lecturer). This is not a student or trainee award.
  • Teams with potential to make significant contributions to translational cancer research.
  • The individual recipient should be a ‘rising star,’ or the ‘best and brightest’ with the most potential, or an integral link in a highly regarded up and coming team.
  • Team must be NZSO members
  • The proposal should generally be in keeping with the strategic objectives of NZSO (see website)

Favoured activities:

This award is aimed at improving researcher capability and their connections with other researchers. The proposed use of the award must be highly likely to increase the output of the research team. Proposals should be novel and imaginative. Proposals should excite the selection panel. The proposal should state how the proposed activity would improve the output of the team.

The award could be used for career development, development of clinical research practice expertise, international connection, creative process - but is not limited to these examples. The award could be used to enable the researcher to spend time in an overseas laboratory, treatment or clinical trial centre, spend time with a mentor, spend time with an international thought leader, regional thought leader, learn a skill that is missing in the research team, pursue an innovative lead - but is not limited to any of these examples.

There is no restriction on the category of cancer research. Instead the driving requirement is a team that includes clinicians and scientists as integral members.

The award is not to be used for providing standard research consumables, standard research costs, standard salary, standard equipment, or administration costs.

Any research team is eligible to win this award on more than one occasion.

Requirements of recipients

The recipient is required to give an oral presentation at a subsequent NZSO (i.e., at the NZSO meeting following the use of the award) that describes the use of the support provided by the award and learning gained and how this has impacted on the research team. This presentation must explain how the activity supported by the award assisted the team to work together more effectively.

Intended secondary gain of the Fellowship

-More effective research teams that can conduct research that improves outcomes for people with cancer

-Increased number of truly translational cancer research teams in NZ with true clinician involvement (both award winners, and non-winning groups who form to apply for the award but go on to work together anyway)

-Recognition of translational interactions in NZ (profile of this research increased by award) and gradual culture shift amongst clinicians to consider translational involvement

-More clinician involvement in NZSO

-Raising profile of the NZSO meeting

Stated requirements from Roche as the sponsor:

  • Recipient works in NZ (or intends to work in NZ).
  • Roche representative able to present the award to the winning team during the NZSO annual meeting.
  • Award team members agree to give a talk to Roche staff after research project/sabbatical (supported activity) has been completed.
  • Roche has no role in selection of the award recipient.
  • Interaction between NZSO and Roche meets ethical best practice and international requirements around pharmaceutical sponsorship.

Additional Considerations

The nature of the selection panel and the selection process are yet to be formally determined. This detail is part of an NZSO workstream commencing in March 2016.